Category: BTCC

The Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team will go into its tenth season in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship fully focused on challenging for top honours after confirming its driver line-up for the 2019 campaign.

The West Thurrock-based team will field a pair of race-winning Honda Civic Type Rs in the UK’s leading series next year and will head into the new season in better shape than ever before after concluding deals with two of the leading drivers on the grid.

Fife racer Rory Butcher will return for a second season in AmD colours having joined the team at the start of 2018 for what was his first full year of touring car competition.

The 31-year-old – who previously raced with success in both single-seater and sportscar competition – enjoyed a stellar debut campaign with the team at the wheel of an MG6 GT, with a best finish of sixth amongst a number of impressive top ten finishes.

It meant Rory ended the year in tenth place in the Independents’ Trophy and fourth in the Jack Sears Trophy; only missing out on a top three finish in the latter on a count-back of wins.

Now armed with one of the strongest packages on the BTCC grid, Rory will seek to add his name to the list of race winners and launch a bid for championship silverware.

In a real signal of Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing’s intent for the season ahead, Rory will be joined in the two-car line-up by Yorkshireman Sam Tordoff who joins the team for what will be his sixth full season in the series.

The 29-year-old made his BTCC debut back in 2010 in a one-off drive before joining the grid on a full-time basis in 2013, having previously enjoyed success in the Renault Clio Cup UK and the Porsche Carrera Cup.

Having finished as series runner-up in 2016, Sam spent a season in GT racing before returning to touring cars this year with Motorbase – taking eleventh in the standings and ending the campaign with the best qualifying average on the grid.

Sam tested with the teamn twelve months ago and will head into the new season seeking to add to the seven victories and 28 podium finishes he has taken in his career to date.

Like Rory, Sam has his sights firmly fixed on challenging for championship silverware with an outright title bid being the ultimate aim.

Rory and Sam will make their race debuts in the Hondas, when the 2019 season kicks off at Brands Hatch in early April.

Rory Butcher, #6 Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing Honda Civic Type R, said:“This year for me was all about gaining experience in the BTCC and learning the ropes after so long racing in GT cars. My aim was to build towards getting into a top package for 2019 to push forwards up the grid, and I’m delighted that I can do that and also stay with Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing to build on what we achieved this year. I have to thank Shaun, the team and all of my sponsors for making that possible.

“You only have to look at the stats for the Honda in recent years to see how well it has performed and on paper, there is huge potential for us to do some big things on track in 2019. It’s a big step up for both the team and I, and I’m confident that this package will give us a great chance of success. Certainly, I think it would be silly of me to not aim for podiums and race wins and I’ll also be looking at the bigger picture of getting as many points on the board as we can to see where it leaves us come the end of the season.

“It’s also great to have Sam coming onboard and I don’t think I could wish for a better team-mate. We enjoyed some good races together when I was with Celtic Speed in the Carrera Cup, and since he moved into the BTCC he has shown himself to be one of the top drivers with his results on track.

“I’m sure he’ll be a great reference point for me and I think we’ll work together well as a pairing to push the team forwards.”

Sam Tordoff, #600 Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing Honda Civic Type R, said:“The Honda is a car that I’ve wanted to race for some time and when Gordon Shedden beat me to the title in one, it only increased my desire to see what it was like. To be honest, I didn’t think it was going to happen and it wasn’t something that was on my radar, but then this deal with Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racingcame along and I couldn’t be more excited.

“I’m sure there will be some people who are surprised by this move and whilst there is some appeal in going into 2019 as an underdog, the reality is that I have one aim and that is to fight for the championship title. I showed strong pace on track in 2018 but things just didn’t go my way and eleventh in the standings wasn’t what I was looking for – and it isn’t what I’m chasing next year.

“Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racinghave put a lot of investment into not only getting the cars, but in strengthening the team behind the scenes in order to move to the next level and there can be no excuses. The Honda was on pole for the final round of 2018 and won races, so we have to be aiming to do the same from the outset and I’m confident we can raise a few eyebrows when the season gets underway – and will only get stronger as the year goes on.

“It was also important for me to know that I’d have a strong team-mate alongside me and that is exactly what I have in Rory. Some of his performances in the MG this year were above where the car should have been and I think we’ll form a strong partnership. In my eyes, with everything that Shaun and AmD have pulled together for this programme, there is no weak link.”

Shaun Hollamby, Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing joint team principal, said:“From the moment we agreed a deal to purchase the two Hondas, our focus has been on making sure we signed the right drivers who would give us the best chance of success on track in 2019. In Rory and Sam, I’m confident we have found the ideal pairing and we are massively excited about what we can achieve together next season.

“We knew when we brought Rory onboard this year that he was a top quality driver and his performances in the MG were outstanding. He fitted in with the team immediately and keeping him for a second season was a priority. Given the fact he now has a year of experience under his belt, I have no doubt at all that Rory will be a real contender for podium finishes and race wins.

“To bring in a driver of the calibre of Sam is fantastic for us as a team and we are expecting big things from him at the wheel of the Honda. He brings experience from running with three of BTCC’s top teams and is a proven race winner who has consistently shown himself to be one of the quickest drivers on the grid. He is also well aware of what needs to be done to build a championship challenge, and that has to be his target in 2019.

“Alongside the cars and the drivers, we have been working behind the scenes to strengthen our engineering team and made investments in the facilities back at base, which are an indication of how seriously we are taking this programme. Whilst the BTCC remains as competitive as ever, we aren’t here to make up the numbers and are fully focused on fighting at the sharp end of the grid and battling for silverware.”

Rachel Abbott, Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing joint team principal, said:“I’m delighted that we have been able to have secure both Sam and Rory for the 2019 season as we embark on a new challenge with the Hondas.

“A driver of Sam’s calibre is a great addition to the team and he brings a wealth of BTCC experience as well as a history of excellent results in the series. It is exciting to see what Rory is capable of at the wheel of the Honda after a solid season in the MG this year and I’m sure that as a pair, they will produce some fantastic results next year.

The Cobra Sport AmD Racing team can today confirm that it has agreed a deal with RCIB Insurance and AutoAid Breakdown to take on the role of title sponsor for its 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship programme.

West Thurrock-based AmD Tuning and long-time backers Cobra Sport Exhausts will campaign a pair of Honda Civic Type Rs in the series next year as part of a new and exciting partnership, replacing the two MG6 GTs that were run by AmD in 2018.

Those MGs were run with support from sister companies RCIB Insurance and AutoAid, which are headed by successful Essex-based businessman Mike Joseph.

Founded more than 10 years ago, RCIB Insurance has become one of the fastest growing insurance companies in Europe whilst AutoAid Breakdown – part of the RCIB group since 2016 – has won numerous awards for providing all-inclusive breakdown cover at value for money prices not seen anywhere else.

With the relationship between Cobra Sport AmD Racing and RCIB Insurance/AutoAid having proven to be a success both on and off track this year, talks have now been concluded on a deal to extend the agreement into a second season.

Discussions with potential drivers for the two RCIB Insurance/AutoAid-backed Hondas have also now drawn to a close, with a further announcement in due course about who will be at the wheel of the two cars when the new season kicks off at Brands Hatch in April 2019.

Shaun Hollamby, Cobra Sport AmD Racing joint team principal said:
“Over the past twelve months we have developed a strong working relationship with Mike and his team, so we are delighted to have concluded an agreement to extend our deal with RCIB Insurance and AutoAid into a second season.

“On track this year, we enjoyed some strong results with the MGs and the things we were able to do together off-track also worked extremely well for both parties; such as the competition to win a road-going replica of the car.

“As a team, we are excited about taking our BTCC programme to the next level with the Hondas, and are thrilled to have RCIB and AutoAid along for the ride as we look to build on the success we have already enjoyed together.

“We didn’t quite manage to get onto the overall podium this year, but with the drivers we have now signed to drive the two Hondas, I have no doubt that we will regularly be pushing for the top step in 2019.”

Mike Joseph, RCIB Insurance Managing Director said:
“We are delighted to be working with Shaun and the team at AmD again this year and with the new cars – and our chosen drivers – I’m sure that the 2019 season will be a great success.

“With this extension of our relationship, we can not only look forward to another strong year on track, but can further promote the RCIB Insurance brand – and our sister company AutoAid and its award-winning breakdown cover – to a huge audience both trackside and on TV.

Now BTCC has once again entered the closed season, we thought we’d write an article from a slightly different angle, and with a different ‘voice’. A lot of attention is (rightly) lavished on the drivers who compete on track for RCIB Insurance Racing, but there is a whole mini-industry supporting those drivers and ensuring the cars they perform in are tip top, safe, and competitive. Today, we report a day in the life of a AmdTuning.com with RCIB Insurance Racing/Autoaid ‘grid girl’. All season, ‘Michelle’ has loyally and ably represented our brand, and as a petrolhead herself, we think you’ll enjoy her report:

On a raceday Saturday afternoon, after I have done all my mummy duties of standing on a cold and wet football pitch with my 7yr old, I make my way to my hotel whilst listening to the qualifying on the radio to make sure we have good pace and a good grid position for Sunday’s race. After checking in, I then head to dinner and settle down for an early night (well sometimes, depends if other team members are at my hotel…)

Sunday (Raceday):

I have a 6am wake up call and then set to work on my hair, make up etc before making my way to the circuit in order to arrive for 8am. I then get into my outfit ready for the autograph session which usually starts at 9am. For this, we need to stand with drivers and their name boards and to promote our sponsors, have pictures with fans, hand out sponsors merchandise, interact with fans and smile. A lot.

We normally finish the autograph session around 9:20 which then makes a little time for my well earned breakfast (3hrs after waking up). After that it’s back to pits, ready to make our way to the pit lane for the first race of the day around 11 o clock (ish). We have to be ready and stood with marshals approximately 30 minutes before the start of the race. We spend quite bit of time on our feet, as you’d expect.

On the Marshal’s say so we collect our drivers ”poles which have been laid out in grid order, and we then get in line and make our way onto the grid. When arriving at our position (which is instructed by marshal) you stand facing the oncoming cars with your board in full view for the driver. The feeling of walking out onto the grid in your team colours is amazing, you look up at the stands to see all the fans and different team colours which is great, and of course, it’s nice to acknowledge the fans with a little wave too. When you are in place you then hear the roar of the engines heading towards you and passing you by as they make their way to their grid position. Anyone who loves the sound of a track prepped engine will understand just now that feels.

When the cars have stopped and in place you must turn around with your back to the car to become the face of the team, to promote the team and the sponsors. It’s then that the VIP’s, teams guests, sponsors and commentators and camera crew make their way onto the grid. After more photos, interaction and tv interviews, the track siren goes off and all of the track visitors have to leave the track leaving just the grid girls, and their driver, along with 1 mechanic on the grid. We then leave after a few tense minutes and the race is ready to start. I then make my way (very quickly) to the garage to watch the race and cheer on the team.

Some race weekends can be hot, and some extremely cold and wet to the point where you are actually shaking and your feet are soaking wet, not to mention the windy days that are challenging trying to hold your pole and your umbrella…so it’s not as glamorous as people think.

When race 1 has finished we then need to make ourselves available in the pits to again promote the team, be available for photos with fans, answers questions from passing fans, interact with fans and if they wish to have a look around we take them for a brief tour (usually the smaller fans like to see the cars). We’re always willing to help ensure the fans have a great day.

Races 2 and 3 are relatively the same, making sure we meet with the marshals 30 minutes before, collect boards etc. and do it all again. In between race two and three we have to ensure we grab some lunch…it’s hungry work!

I do this job because of my absolute love of cars, there once was a time when I was a spectator myself and attended as many race meets as I could, and then I had the opportunity to join AmD.

When I’m in the garage I ask lots of questions, I love to get involved and always willing to help where I can. When I’m not working at BTCC I attend the GT Cup, work on, and love to show my Escort RS Cosworth’s and usually found at a racetrack attending a race event of some sort. I’m a real petrolhead though, and as well as often being enthusiasts ourselves, many of the girls who work on grid, also hold down highly professional roles in the workplace during the week too.

RCIB Insurance Racing are incredibly grateful for Michelle, and her colleagues for all the hard work, early mornings, and brand representation that they do!

3 October 2018 – The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team endured a tough end to what has been an impressive season on track as the curtain came down on the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship campaign at Brands Hatch.

The West Thurrock-based team headed for the famous Grand Prix circuit looking for points with the MG6 GT, with both Rory Butcher and Josh Caygill hoping to impress on track.

Rory qualified in 25th place for the opening race and made his way up to 23rd in the first 15 lap encounter of the weekend – with the Fife racer hopeful of pushing towards the points in race two.

Unfortunately for Rory, early contact in race two resulted in him being forced into the pits to retire, and left him near the back of the field for the season finale.

A great start to the final race saw Rory move up eight places into the top 20 but he would struggle for pace as the race wore on and eventually crossed the line at the end in 24th spot.

Team-mate Josh qualified 31st on the grid for race one having been faced with power steering issues during Saturday that led to the team replacing the steering rack on his car, and then battled his way to a 26th place finish in the opening race of the weekend.

After fighting hard to finish 21st in race two as he once again found himself battling against steering complaints, Josh was unfortunately forced to retire from the final round as a result of the problem after three laps.

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“We came to Brands Hatch feeling confident but sadly, the weekend turned out to be a bit of a nightmare. We just didn’t have the pace in the car for some reason and couldn’t get in the groove, which means we have ended up coming from the final round without any points.

“However, the season as a whole has been really good and I think have done a good job with a car that a lot of people were writing off at the start of the year. The guys at AmD, with the support of AutoAid and RCIB, have done a fantastic job to turn out a car that has been really competitive and I think that has been shown in the results we have been able to achieve.

“This season was a real learning curve for me as my first full season in the BTCC, and I feel we have given ourselves a good platform to now try and build on.”

Josh Caygill, #54 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I’m pleased in terms of what I’m doing behind the wheel, but it’s been a tough weekend with power steering problems on my car.

“In the races I was within around a second of Rory and considering we lost a lot of running time in free practice, and also factoring in his experience and quality, I was happy with that to be honest.

“It’s been a good taster of touring cars and I’ve enjoyed working with Shaun and the boys at AmD. Obviously, we’d love to be back in the BTCC for a full season next year and if we can put a package together it’ll definitely be a strong option as it’d be great to give it a proper go now we know what it’s all about.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:
“We have had a great year with the MG and it is just unfortunate that it didn’t end in the manner we hoped for.

“It was a shame for Josh that he had a power steering issue across the weekend that we weren’t able to get to the bottom of despite changing the steering rack, and I don’t feel he was able to show what he can do. He has been a real professional across the two meetings he has done with us and has shown he could do a good job in the BTCC, even if that hasn’t been reflected in the results on paper.

“Rory for me has been one of the finds of the season and we’re delighted with the performances he has put in across the year. He has consistently challenged for points and we’re already working hard to put together a package for 2019 that will allow us to build on what we have achieved this year.”

Thanks again to Marc Waller for his pictures supplied to us all season!

The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team will seek to end a solid season on a high this weekend when the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship campaign draws to a close.

The West Thurrock-based outfit makes the short trip to Brands Hatch hoping to maintain the kind of form that has seen its MG6 GT regularly in contention for points scoring finishes.

Fife racer Rory Butcher has proven to be one of the stars of the season in his first full year in the series, and heads to Brands Hatch keen to add to the 17 points scoring finishes he has enjoyed thus far.

The 31-year-old picked up three top 15 finishes on the shorter Indy layout at Brands Hatch at the start of the year and has continually punched above his weight throughout the campaign with a series of impressive performances on track.

Rory goes into the weekend needing to score a single point to become the first AmD driver to score a century in a season, whilst he will also seek to wrap up a top ten finish in the Independents’ Trophy standings.

A second place finish in the Jack Sears Trophy, for drivers who have yet to finish on the overall podium, is also still possible, with Rory adopting the same race-by-race approach he has taken all season with his focus on trying to make it 20 points finishes for the campaign.

Yorkshire team-mate Josh Caygill will be making his second appearance in the sister MG having made his debut with the team at Silverstone two weeks ago.

Although overheating issues prevented him from picking up three finishes on his first weekend in the car, Josh made solid progress on track as he returned to front-wheel drive competition and will aim to maintain that progress to push forwards towards the top 20.

Unlike at Silverstone, Josh will go into the weekend without any additional success ballast onboard his car; something that will boost his chances of some strong results on a circuit where he has already won this season in the Blancpain Sprint Cup.

Off track, this weekend will see the conclusion of the special competition that has run throughout the season giving one lucky person the chance to win a road-going replica of the MG6 GT that has raced on track throughout the year.

Eight competition winners have already earned their place in the grand final this weekend at Brands Hatch, with two more people having the chance to join them in the battle to secure the car.

Those two will be selected from all those who purchase AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing merchandise at the circuit, and which is available for sale across the weekend in the trade area.

A head-to-head Scalextric battle will then determine which of the ten comes away with the top prize.

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“The Brands Hatch GP circuit is a great place to end the season. It’s a circuit I really enjoy and one where I feel the MG should go well as we have performed strongly at venues featuring quick corners – which is what we’ll face this weekend. We also made a lot of progress with the set-up of the car at Silverstone last time out and I feel that will put us in a good position going into the season finale.

“I have a number of aims for this weekend. I want to break the 100 point mark for the season, try to secure a place in the top 15 in the overall championship and cement a top three finish in the Jack Sears Trophy.

“I’ll be pushing to the maximum for some strong results and it would be great to end the year with at least one more top ten finish to my name to go into the winter on a high.”

Josh Caygill, #54 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I can’t wait to get back in the car this weekend. Silverstone was a learning weekend for me and a very public test, and I was happy with the improvement I made even if we had a few issues that affected the results. I’m eager to try and kick on now at Brands Hatch and try to push for some solid results.

“With the knowledge and experience I have from some time in the car, I’m hoping that I can be on the pace from the start of the weekend and will be able to hit the ground running, whilst it will also benefit me to not be carrying additional weight this weekend. To be honest, I was shocked by the impact the weight had at Silverstone and the car was transformed when we took it out, so I know I’ll be starting in a better place.

“All being well, we can qualify a bit better this weekend and then get involved in the pack from the start of race one and try to work our way forwards. I’m planning to get stuck in and it would be great if we could get into the points. Anything can happen in the BTCC, so we’ll have to see how things pan out.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:
“I think we’ve done a good job with the MGs this season and go into the finale at Brands Hatch feeling optimistic about ending the year on a high.

“Rory has done a fantastic job in his first full season in the series and has done everything we hoped he would do, and more besides. Given the pace he has shown in recent events, we’re confident that he can bring home a top ten finish to end the year strongly and cement his position in the standings.

“Josh was impressive at Silverstone in the way he approached his first weekend, and the improvements he made weren’t reflected in the results on paper due to issues outside his control. I have no doubt he’ll take steps forward this weekend and think a points finish is certainly an achievable target.”

18 September 2018 – The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing put more points on the board as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship headed for Silverstone for the penultimate meeting of the year.

The West Thurrock-based outfit headed into the weekend keen to build on three top ten finishes at Knockhill in the previous round, with regular driver Rory Butcher joined by series debutant Josh Caygill.

Fife racer Rory qualified 24th on the grid for race one despite his best lap being less than half a second away from pole, showing the ultra-competitive nature of the grid around the short National layout.

A stunning performance in the opening race saw Rory charge through the field at the wheel of his MG6 GT, with a number of impressive moves for position seeing him climb up to twelfth spot by the finish.

Running the less favourable hard tyre in race two affected his chances of more forward progress as he slipped back to 16th spot by the finish, although the Scot went into race three optimistic about repeating the performance he had shown in race one earlier in the day.

Despite early race contact that damaged the side of his car, Rory battled up to 13th place before being forced to pit having picked up a puncture. Rejoining a lap down, he was then the quickest car on track to show the pace of the MG before he brought the car into the pits to retire.

Team-mate Josh, from Holmfirth in Yorkshire, was forced to contend with carrying additional ballast into the weekend as a new entry to the series, which played a part in him qualifying in 30th place for his debut race.

Race one was a case of mission accomplished as he brought the car to the finish in 23rd place on the hard compound tyre, but the rookie was then forced to retire from race two when his car started to lose power.

The team fitted a new radiator ahead of race three but a misfire developed in the early stages as a legacy of ECU damage from the earlier overheating and he was again forced to bring his car in to retire.

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“Qualifying was a bit frustrating because I know there was more time in the car. However, I kept encountering people in the final sector which meant I couldn’t get the ideal lap, and the extra tenth of a second would have moved us right up the grid with the times being so close.

“Race one really made up for it though and we showed strong pace to come through towards the top ten, although we knew race two would be tough on the hard tyre. I think we did well to minimise the places we lost in that one and there is no doubt in my mind that a top ten was possible without the puncture in race three.

“Clearly we had a really quick car at Silverstone so it’s a shame we couldn’t come away with more points, but we’ll hope to get some more strong results to end the year at Brands Hatch in a few weeks.”

Josh Caygill, #54 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“The end results have been tough but I’ve had a lot of fun on track this weekend on my debut. The first day was all about getting experience in the car and carrying the weight in qualifying and the opening race was always going to make it tough. I just made sure I stayed out of trouble and made up some places, which is the most I could have done.

“The car felt good in the early stages of race two before we lost power and it started to overheat and I was forced to retire. The team did a great job ahead of race three but sadly we had nothing to show for it because there was a misfire that prevented me from continuing.

“There is plenty I can take away from the weekend though and I’m already looking forward to Brands Hatch to see what we can do there.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing, said:
“It’s another weekend where we have shown good pace with the MGs, and it’s a shame we didn’t pick up a few more points from it. We spent a lot of time looking at how to improve the performance of the car in qualifying but sadly couldn’t show it due to traffic, but the race pace was as good as it has been all season.

“Rory was particularly impressive in race one to come through the field in the manner that he did and had he not had the puncture in race three, there is no reason why he couldn’t have done it again when you look at the times he was setting.

“For Josh, he did everything that was asked of him and made good progress and it was just unfortunate that there were a few gremlins on race day that prevented him from picking up three finishes. However, I think that when we go to Brands Hatch without the extra weight in his car, he can hope to push further up the field.”

The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team can today confirm the signing of Josh Caygill for the final two rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.

Josh will compete for the West Thurrock-based team in the meetings at Silverstone and Brands Hatch at the wheel of the #54 MG6 GT as team-mate to Rory Butcher in what will be his first foray into the BTCC.

The 29-year-old, from Holmfirth in Yorkshire, makes the move into the BTCC having enjoyed a varied career to date having initially competed on two wheels – including two years racing in the highly-competitive British Supersport Championship.

Switching to four wheels in 2013, Josh went on to compete in the Volkswagen Racing Cup and the DTM-supporting Audi Sport TT Cup before moving into sportscars in 2017 with Team WRT in the Blancpain GT Endurance Cup.

This season, Josh has been competing in the Blancpain Sprint Series in a Team Parker-run Bentley Continental GT alongside former BTCC racer Aron Taylor-Smith, with the pair taking victory in the Silver Cup during the British round at Brands Hatch back in May.

Josh has had the opportunity to sample the MG – ironically the same car that Taylor-Smith raced in the series last year – during a day of testing at Snetterton and will now hope for a solid race debut when he hits the track at Silverstone this weekend.

Team-mate Rory heads for Silverstone hoping to maintain an impressive run of form that has seen him finish in the top ten in the last six races.

The Fife racer showed strong pace at both Rockingham and Knockhill and heads into the penultimate meeting of the campaign seeking to cement his position in the top of the eight of the Independents’ Trophy standings.

The main focus for Rory going into the weekend will be to try and improve his qualifying performance, which in turn will give the 31-year-old the opportunity to maximise his results on race day.

Having finished on the podium numerous time at Silverstone in the past, and with confidence on a high, Rory will seek to try and push well inside the top ten to at least match his previous best result of sixth place.

Josh Caygill, #54 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I’m over the moon to have agreed a deal to join the team for the final two rounds of the season. The BTCC is a series that I have wanted to compete in for a long time but the right opportunity has never come along before. When this chance arrived, I grabbed it with both hands.

“Having had chance to sample the MG last week, the car felt really nice, even though the rear end was a bit lively, and it was good to be back in front-wheel drive having spent the last few years in GT machinery.

“I’m open minded about the weekend ahead and my only aim is to go out there and do my best. I want to enjoy myself and if we come away from Silverstone with a good result on the board, then I’ll view it as a bonus at this stage

“For me, these two rounds are an opportunity to see what the BTCC is all about and if it works for both me and my sponsors, then it is certainly something I’d look at for 2019.”

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“We head to Silverstone on a high after our results in the last two rounds and I’m looking forward to the weekend as Silverstone is a circuit I really enjoy. It’s also one that I think should suit the MG, which leaves me feeling confident about picking up more strong results.

“We know we still need to try and extract more from the car in qualifying but whatever happens on Saturday, we have shown we have a strong race car that we can use to push forwards on a Sunday.

“We are scoring good points at the moment and are approaching 100 in the overall standings, which will be a great achievement for us. We have to keep being consistent and see where we can end up after these final two rounds.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Josh into the team for the final two rounds of the year. He has shown himself to be a very capable driver in everything he has done in his career so far, and brings a wealth of experience having competed at a high level in Blancpain GT and also on the DTM support bill.

“He drove very well in the test last week given that he was running on old tyres and it was his first time in the MG, and we certainly feel he is a driver who is capable of bringing home some solid results. The additional weight as a new driver will be a challenge this weekend, but all we are looking for from him is to stay out of trouble and learn as much as he can.

“Rory heads to Silverstone in a rich vein of form after his strong results at Rockingham and Knockhill and we are hopeful he can maintain that kind of form this weekend. It’s clear to see that we have a strong race car, so we need to focus on trying to get more from it in qualifying to give him the best possible opportunity to pick up a big haul of points this weekend.”

The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team maintained its recent strong form with another three top finishes in the latest rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Knockhill.

The West Thurrock-based team made the long trip to Scotland on the back of a solid weekend at Rockingham, where Fife racer Rory Butcher was able to match his career best result of sixth and Aberdeen-based team-mate enjoyed a solid debut in the second MG6 GT.

Buoyed by his performance in Corby two weeks earlier, Rory headed into the weekend at his home circuit eager to impress but endured a tough qualifying session on Saturday that left him 23rd on the grid for the opening race of the weekend.

The arrival of rain on race day would work in his favour however, and an impressive drive in the opening race saw him storm through the pack to bring home a top ten finish.

Rory followed that up with ninth place in race two, which would then become seventh when the leading two cars were excluded from the results, which left him well placed for the third and final race of the weekend.

Lapping as quickly as anyone else on track, Rory battled up to fifth spot and looked set to secure his best result in the series to date until an error at the hairpin in the closing stages dropped him back to seventh.

Rory now sits eighth in the Independents’ Trophy standings and third in the Jack Sears Trophy.

Team-mate Glynn qualified in 27th spot at the wheel of the second car but also made forward progress in the opening race of the weekend as he made his through to 20th spot in the tricky on-track conditions.

The former British GT champion would follow that up with 17th place in race two before the two exclusions ahead saw him promoted into 15th – allowing him to break into the points for the first time since returning to the series.

Like Rory, Glynn went into the final race of the weekend keen to continue his progress through the field but when the inside of his car started to steam up, he found himself struggling for visibility and slipped back to 18th having run strongly inside the points in the early stages.

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“Saturday was a tough day as we don’t seem to be able to that that one quick lap out of the car in qualifying like some of the others do. But we knew we had a strong race car and with the rain that was forecast, I was confident that we had a good chance of some decent results.

“The car was as good as ever and was very stable in the conditions which allowed me to push forwards into the top ten in race one and that was key. From there, we showed we had the pace to run with the top five and it’s a shame that a small error on my part towards the end meant we had to settle for seventh in race three.

“It was one of those situations where I had to have a go and if it had come off, we’d have been able to celebrate a great result.”

Glynn Geddie, #41 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“It’s been a bit of an up and down weekend. I’ve not quite had the overall pace throughout the weekend and if I’m being honest, I think I should have done a bit better. The first race was down to me mostly and race two was okay and it was good to end up with a point at the end of it.

“The third race was our chance to really to push forwards but I was struggling to see as the car was steaming up and it was quite dangerous so I had to back off a bit. Luck wasn’t on my side but this is a tough grid to be part of and I have to say thanks to the team for their efforts.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:
“As at Rockingham, it’s been a good weekend for the two MGs and we leave Knockhill pleased with some strong results on track. We came into the weekend feeling optimistic about what we could achieve and it was great to see perform well on their home circuit.

“Rory did a great job throughout race day after a difficult Saturday and to see him running so strongly in the top ten was fantastic. He drove superbly and to have now finished inside the top ten in six straight races shows we have a strong race car.

“Glynn has also done well in difficult conditions in what was only his second weekend in the car and it was good to see him score a point. I’m sure he would have added more without his problem in race three but he has done a solid job and we’re pleased with his performance on track.”

The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team will hope to impress this weekend when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads for Knockhill for the eighth round of the season.

Although the trip to Scotland is the longest on the calendar for the West Thurrock-based team, the Knockhill meeting will be something of a home event for the MG squad thanks to its all-Scottish driver pairing of Rory Butcher and Glynn Geddie – who go into the meeting hoping for a strong showing in front of a partisan Scottish crowd.

Fife racer Rory, the son of circuit owner Derek Butcher, will be competing on home soil in the BTCC for the second time having made his debut in the series in the corresponding meeting last year.

Having picked up a brace of top ten finishes on his first weekend in a touring car, Rory has gone on to establish himself as a regular contender for points and arrives at Knockhill on the back of his strongest weekend to date last time out at Rockingham.

Three top ten finishes included Rory matching his career best result of sixth, with the 31-year-old eager to try and maintain that form in what is sure to be his biggest meeting of the year.

Aberdeen team-mate Glynn enjoyed a solid debut in the MG6 GT at Rockingham having gone into his first weekend with the team without any prior testing in the car.

Showing gradual improvement across the weekend in terms of his pace on what was his first outing in front-wheel drive for some four year, Glynn will now hope to push on towards the points scoring positions at the circuit where he secured his best ever BTCC qualifying result on his last visit back in 2014.

Unlike his first meeting with the team, Glynn will go into the weekend without any additional ballast on his car and – like Rory – eager to make the most of the support of his home fans.

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I really can’t wait for the weekend to come around; I’m absolutely buzzing about it. Twelve months ago, my BTCC debut at Knockhill was very last minute and I was almost going in blind, but now I have twelve months of experience in the series under my belt and am in much better shape as a result.

“As the home driver, there will be a lot of expectation from people and it’s important that we don’t get carried away, but at the same time, I go into the weekend hoping to push for some really strong results on track.

“Because of how unique the Knockhill circuit is, I’m hopeful that my knowledge will help us to make a bit of a jump forwards which will then put us in a stronger position for the three races. Given that we have raced stronger than we have qualified all year, I think we’d then be well placed to pick up some really good results across the weekend.”

Glynn Geddie, #41 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I’m going into the Knockhill meeting feeling as confident as I can be. We saw how close things were at Rockingham and I think it will be the same again this weekend so track position is really going to be key.

“If we can get a break in qualifying and put ourselves in a good position on the grid then I feel confident that I can then try and push forwards, as my race pace on my debut in the MG was good. The time I’ve now spent in the car can only help me as I have more knowledge and more of an idea of how it is going to react to changes, and also experience of the tyres.

“Whilst this will only be my second weekend in the car, I don’t see any reason why I can’t try and push for some points and that will be my aim when we hit the track.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:
“This is without doubt the biggest weekend of the season for the MGs and we go to Knockhill hoping to challenge for some good results. Both Rory and Glynn will be able to count on huge support from the watching fans and hopefully we’ll be able to give them plenty of reason to cheer.

“For obvious reasons, Rory knows the circuit better than anyone else on the grid and we are confident that he will be able to use that knowledge to his advantage to build on the results he picked up at Rockingham.

“Glynn showed good pace in the car at Rockingham and performed strongly at Knockhill the last time he was competing in the BTCC. The aim for him has to be to maintain the progress he made on his debut to push towards the points. It would be great if we could see both drivers scoring in their home event and would set us up well for the final two meetings of the year.”

The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team secured a hat-trick of top ten finishes from a strong weekend on track as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship headed for Rockingham for the seventh round of the year.

The West Thurrock-based team was keen to bounce back from a tough weekend at Snetterton where a single top ten finish didn’t reflect the pace in the team’s MG6 GT, with all-Scottish driver pairing of Rory Butcher and Glynn Geddie keen to impress.

Fife racer Rory led the MG challenge in qualifying with the 20th best time, with the close nature of the grid being reflected by the fact that his time was just six-tenths of a second off pole position.

Come Sunday however, Rory was able to show the race pace in the car with a starring drive in the opening 18 lap encounter that saw him work his way through the field to take ninth spot on the very last lap.

Although he briefly dropped outside the top ten in the early stages of race two, Rory was soon fighting his way forwards once again and crossed the line in eighth spot which secured a second row start for the final race thanks to the reverse grid draw.

Running a strong second early on, Rory diced with championship leader Colin Turkington over third place before a small error at Deene saw him run wide and slip down to sixth spot, which is where he would ultimately finish for a third top ten result of the weekend.

Team-mate Glynn went into the weekend carrying an additional 45kg of ballast as a new entry and without any prior running in the car, which played a part in him qualifying in 30th place.

The Aberdeen racer ran well with the extra ballast in race one to finish 22nd and then repeated the result in race two after finding himself dicing on track with the Honda of Dan Cammish late on.

The former British GT champion briefly got himself up into the points in the early stages of race three but having been demoted back to 21st place, he brought the car in to retire as a precaution when a warning light appeared on the dashboard.

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I’m really pleased with how the weekend went and it was a good way for us to bounce back from the disappointment of not scoring at Snetterton. After such a tight qualifying session, I felt confident that we could race forwards as we have had a strong race car throughout the season – and that proved to be correct.

“It was all about making sure that we stayed out of trouble at the start of the races, particularly in the mixed conditions, but I think I drove well and felt in a good place going into race three. I was determined to try and get to the front early on but perhaps took a bit too much out of the tyres and was struggling for grip.

“It was a shame that we had the little trip off but if I’m being honest, I’m not sure if I would have been able to keep the three guys behind at bay because of the way our tyres dropped off. I’m not going to beat myself up about it because three top ten finishes is a great weekend for us and a nice boost going into my home round at Knockhill in a few weeks.”

Glynn Geddie, #41 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:
“I think it’s been a good weekend for me on my return to the series. Carrying ballast as a new entry was always going to make it tough, but I think we made good progress across the weekend.

“Race two in particular was good once we had the weight taken out, and the car was transformed from where we were in race one. I was able to push a lot more and made good progress in terms of my pace, which is something I can take a lot of confidence from considering how long it is since I last raced a front-wheel drive car.

“It’s unfortunate that the issue in race three cost me some track time but I’ve shown I can be competitive despite my lack of time in the car and I’m confident of pushing further forwards at Knockhill.”

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:
“It’s been a great weekend for the MG side of the team. We showed strong pace throughout race day and the results we have picked up here are the kind of results we could have had at Snetterton with a bit more luck on our side.

“To pick up three top ten finishes is a fantastic performance for Rory, who has driven really well, and I think Glynn can also hold his head up high considering it was his first time in the car this weekend.

“He’s jumped in with no testing and been right in the mix which I think bodes well for us challenging for points for both cars when we go to Knockhill in a few weeks.”